Senate Bill 1 to negatively impact District 161's state funding

At the March 25 meeting, members of the Board were updated on Senate Bill 1, school funding reform legislation that replaces Senate Bill 16. This proposed legislation creates a single funding formula that is intended to provide greater funding for districts with greater financial need.
The Illinois State Board of Education has provided two financial impact models of the current version of Senate Bill 1. The first year, full year impact on Summit Hill shows a significant loss of state support for the District, ranging from $1.37 million to $1.69 million. This translates to a loss of between $448 and $515 per student.
The models, which are located at www.isbe.net, are based on FY 2013-14 funding from the state. Both models include additional financial resources being added to state funding. One model adds $92 million in additional funds to support adequacy in funding across the state. (ISBE defines adequacy as a level of funding sufficient for a high quality education.) The other model adds $92 million for adequacy and another $500 million in funding for K-12 education, which is the number presented in the governor’s new budget.
The model with additional money for adequacy shows the District would receive $1.53 million in state support, compared to $3.2 million in FY 2013-14. That is a loss of $1.68 million in the first year. Those numbers do not take into account a hold harmless provision, which limits the District’s reduction in the first year. When the hold harmless provision, limiting the reduction to 25% of the prior year’s funding, is calculated, the District would receive $2.4 million and would suffer a loss of $805,834. The hold harmless is based on a three-year phase-in, which means less financial protection for Summit Hill each year (by 25% each year).
The other model, which includes money to support adequacy and additional money for the foundation level, shows $1.75 million in funding for Summit Hill. That is a loss of $1.46 million compared to FY 2013-14. In that model, the hold harmless calculation would also protect the District the first year, limiting the loss to $805,834.

District parents will be utilizing the online student re-registration and payment process for all returning students for the upcoming 2015-16 school year. This process helps the District adequately plan for the upcoming year to retain the best teachers for verified student enrollment. Beginning March 16, a link to the re-registration form will be active at www.studentregistration.org. During online re-registration, current student information can be confirmed and updated. Parents will need to enter their child’s Access ID and password. Parents will be receiving this information in a letter to be mailed the week of March 2. The re-registration fee for the 2015-16 is $130 for students grades 1-8 through May 29, 2015. After that date, the fee will be $150.

Kindergarten registration drive continues

Summit Hill School District 161’s 2015-2016 Kindergarten registration drive is underway. Parents may access the left navigation of the webpage to review the checklist of documents needed for registration. Parents have the option of enrolling their kindergartener in the extended day program which is from 8:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. or the half-day program which runs from 8:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Registration fee for extended day is $150. Registration fee for Half Day is $125. Payment options are available. To register, please come to the District Administrative Center, 20100 South Spruce Drive in Frankfort. Office hours are 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Herbicide Application on School Grounds April 3-14

This is a notice that all buildings will receive an herbicide application, for weeds, starting from April 3rd through April 14th by the Frankfort Square Park District. In compliance with the Integrated Pest Management Program developed by Summit Hill School District 161 in accordance with the USEPA and the IDPH, the following herbicides will be applied: Shaw’s Treflan 500 granules to all mulched areas at the schools.
Any questions should be directed to: Jim Jakubowski, Director of Buildings & Grounds at 815-469-9103.